Cycle lanes are set to be installed on either side of Leicester’s London Road in a bid to improve rider’s safety on the busy route.

Leicester City Council has been preparing the project for a number of years but stepped up its efforts since the death of cyclist Sam Boulton who was killed in an accident outside the rail station last year.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has now revealed further details of the scheme, which will cost in the region of £2.75 million, to create cycle routes outbound and inbound on either side of the road between the station and the Mayfield Road roundabout.

Initially the council looked at running a cycle lane right up the middle of London Road, used by some 500 cyclists a day, but Sir Peter said that had proved unworkable because of all the traffic that would have to cross it leaving side streets like University Road, De Montfort Street and Highfield Street.

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Another plan to put a single contra-flow lane along western side of London Road was also considered and discarded.

The mayor said: “There are many challenges about how we do this - particularly outside the station and at some of the junctions.

“But we have said for a long time the highest priority of the radial roads is London Road when it comes to improving pedestrian and cycle safety.

“It is the one that gives us the most benefit for cycle safety and we are intensely away of the tragic accident just some 12 months ago.

“It does need a radical solution but we also have the challenge of getting safe alternative routes to New Walk.

“Cyclists shouldn’t be using New Walk and they wouldn’t if there was an acceptable safe alternative.

“They shouldn’t be using it in the mean time but they do have a point.

“It’s challenging. There is no obvious right answer to it but our officers have been very creative.

“We have proposals as to how it might be possible to get a cycle route either side of the road - one inbound and one outbound.”

Two metre wide cycle lanes - segregated from traffic by a kerb are planned.

One of the three lanes of traffic heading away from the city centre will be given over to cycle space but the council says traffic is often prevented from using it in any case because it is used for parking.